To date, over 150,233 Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests have been carried out for COVID-19 in New Zealand. Combined with strict social distancing measures, this high level of testing has been invaluable in the country’s approach to managing the outbreak. We spoke to Associate Professor James Ussher, a Fellow of the RCPA, who explains how a nationwide collaboration to provide diagnostic testing for COVID-19 has been pivotal in minimising the impact of COVID-19 in New Zealand.

“Testing is absolutely critical in managing an infectious outbreak. This is particularly important when dealing with SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes COVID-19, as it can present the same as many other respiratory illnesses. What we have discovered through our local experience is that many of the cases are extremely mild, meaning that testing is required to identify cases and conduct subsequent contact tracing.

“Since the start of the outbreak, pathology laboratories have worked hard with the Ministry of Health to ensure that there is an ongoing high level of quality testing available. Laboratories across New Zealand have worked together, along with the universities which have assisted with testing, to ensure that we can keep testing,” said A/Prof Ussher.

Dr Gary McAuliffe is Medical Director of Labtests in Auckland and Northland Pathology Laboratory and is also a Fellow of the RCPA. He estimates that around 2,000 tests are currently being performed in his region alone each day. He explains that there has been a large collaborative effort across New Zealand to provide high volumes of testing.

“What has been incredible is how we have been working together as a network, nationally, in a way that we have not done before. To keep up with demand, we have collaborated with the universities, plus a number of agricultural laboratories which would normally use PCR tests to test livestock for infectious disease. These institutions have assisted in the response by working with human diagnostic laboratories to provide resources, facilities, and staff to meet the high volume of testing required for COVID-19.

“We have also been able to overcome logistical challenges by working with the New Zealand Government and the defence force to solve problems which would normally have been insurmountable,” said Dr McAuliffe.

New Zealand has recently started to relax its strict lockdown policy which has been in place since 25 March 2020. Residents are now able to travel to work, spend more time outside and order takeaway food for the first time in more than four weeks.

“The ability to go on from here and come out of lockdown is really quite dependent on our ability to test large volumes. So far, we seem to have managed it correctly with our ability to stand up to testing and we still have the flexibility to increase even further and to support this extremely important health intervention,” said Dr McAuliffe.